Burk brings new look to post-Phillips Lions
ZACH PARKER
JESSIEVILLE — Someone other than Don Phillips is roaming the sidelines at Jessieville this football season. But the new guy doesn’t need a name tag.
T.J. Burk comes home to become only the third head coach in program history. A former Lakeside assistant, Burk quarterbacked the 2006 Lions to a 15-0 record and state championship. He replaces Phillips, who retired after 29 years as head coach after serving as Steve Peoples’ assistant on Jessieville’s first team (1984).
Taking over a program with only seven victories in the last three seasons, Burk is implementing a spread offense while making no outward allowances for rebuilding.
“The expectations for us will always be that we want to make the playoffs every year,” Burk said. “Regardless of who we have, we’re going to try to make the system fit the kids that we have and put them in the best situation possible. The goal is always to make the playoffs because once you get in, you have a shot.”
Quarterback Adam Saveall transferred from Lakeside, where he led the junior-varsity Rams to a 4-4 record last year with Burk calling plays.
“I’m confident in his abilities,” Burk said. “There’s some new stuff; it’s not exactly the Lakeside offense, but he’s picked it up well. He’s got to do a little more reads and we’re going to trust him to be able to get us in and out of good plays at the line. I think he’s very prepared to be successful as our quarterback this season and the next season.”
Incumbent quarterback Steven Benson, a senior, moves to halfback after earning all-Garland County honors at quarterback last season. Fellow seniors Ruben de Haas and Drew Galloway join Benson to give the Lions a potent rushing attack.
“Those three guys are key pieces to what we do,” Burk said. “There will be times where we’ll put all three of them in the backfield and we think it’s going to be difficult for other teams to match up with those guys. You can’t really key in on one of them because all three of them can hurt you. I’m very confident in our depth in the backfield.”
Seniors Jace Simmons, Kaleb Moody and Rickey Owens headline the receiving corps while junior Austin Chandler provides depth. Galloway and Justin Herron will split time at tight end.
Junior Dale Scott (6-0, 230) returns at left tackle, joined by sophomore Eric Robertson (6-0, 205) and seniors Bay Bradshaw (6-1, 240), Christian Orrell (5-10, 205) and Josh Zamudio (5-10, 260) on a veteran offensive line that Burk considers a strength for his team.
“Just having those experienced guys up front definitely helps our offense,” he said. “They’ve seen the competition that we play and know what other teams do. Learning a new system with new schemes was a struggle at first, but they’ve done a pretty good job of grasping those. I’m really impressed with the way they’ve been able to learn it and apply it to different situations.”
Much like the offense, the defensive playbook has been completely revamped after the Lions allowed 35 points per game last season.
“We’ve changed pretty much everything on defense this season,” Burk said. “From how many guys are on the line to what we do in the secondary, it’s all brand new and we believe that what we do defensively is going to be hard for other people to pick up and adjust to. It may take a little time to pick things up when we start going at live speed, but for the most part we’ve done a pretty good job and I think we’ll be ready to go.”
Zamudio and Bradshaw man the defensive-tackle spots, joined on the line by ends Dale Scott and Jeffery Scott. Robertson and Trevor McElwee provide depth up front.
Running backs Benson, de Haas and Galloway return at linebacker, each recording at least 50 tackles last season. Burk has high hopes for his athletic linebackers in the middle of his defense this season.
“We’ll send some of those guys on blitzes and we’ll also ask them to drop back in pass coverage so them being versatile really helps us out as far as mixing up our coverages,” he said. “That’s going to be a big part of what we do this season and that atleticisim is key at the linebacker spot.”
Owens, at safety, recorded 33 tackles and two interceptions last season and is expected to take on even more responsibility in the new system.
“Rickey plays probably our most important spot on defense,” Burk said. “We’re lacking a little bit in speed in the secondary, but we make up for it with scheme and how we play people. Rickey is the guy that has to make everything right for us. We’ve put a lot of trust in him and he’s done really well at it so we’re excited to see him play. We think he’ll have a big year for us.”
Twins Colton and Hunter Ault man the cornerback spots with Moody, Lathan Brian and Gage Triolo each expected to see time. Simmons and Saveall help at safety alongside Owens.
The new era for Jessieville football begins Friday when the Lions host Mountain Pine at Phillips Field.